Ruling: State can't take action vs tribe's casino vendors

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) – State gaming officials are being prevented from taking any action against the businesses that contract with a northern New Mexico tribe.

A federal judge Wednesday granted a preliminary injunction for the Pojoaque (poh-WAH'-kay) Pueblo, which operates two casinos north of Santa Fe.

The tribe complained to the New Mexico Attorney General's Office last month, accusing the state Gaming Control Board of illegally holding a July 15 closed-door meeting on their gaming activities.

Tribal officials say it violated the Open Meetings Act because board members were allegedly strategizing about how to retaliate against the vendors and manufacturers who do business with the Pueblo's gaming operations.

They filed suit in federal court, asking that state gambling regulators be prohibited from taking any action against licensed vendors who do business with the tribe.